One of the best guitarists in the business, Derek Trucks has been balancing his work with the Allman Brothers Band and his own group for several years now. This live double CD set captures the Derek Trucks Band at their sizzling best, while augmented by a full horn section during two nights at Chicago’s Park West in 2009.

It’s been said that Trucks turns in “walk-in, crawl-out concerts” and listening to this it’s hardly an understatement. From the moment DTB roar into the Southern-flavored “I’ll Find My Way” the disc rarely lets up, packed with a soulful intensity and some mighty sweet musical excursions.

Lead singer Mike Mattison delivers some powerful work, but it’s the full band that just kicks the daylights out of Bob Dylan’s “Down in the Flood,” the blues-belting “Get Out My Life Woman/Who Knows,” and a 14-minute plus John Coltrane favorite, “Afro Blue,” which spotlights Kofi Burbridge’s flute playing and Trucks’ own fusion-style guitar artistry.

A major treat is the inclusion of an excellent, harmony-filled cover of the often forgotten Derek and the Dominoes’ beauty “Anyday” at the end of the second disc.

Tracks to download: “Afro Blue” “Anyday”

Ozzy Osbourne, “Scream” (Epic). 2 1/2 stars.

Ozzy Osbourne keeps showing up on those lists of rock stars most likely to not show up for their next breakfast, but the “Prince of Darkness” is working out, prepping for this year’s Ozzfest and has a new album, lovingly titled “Scream.”

The lead single “Let Me Hear You Scream,” with its mega-chorus and insane guitar solo should prove perfect for arena madness and there’s plenty of the former Black Sabbath frontman’s trademark trudging metal heard on songs like “Crucify” the blow-down-the-doors rocker “Let it Die,” and the exceedingly melodic standout “Life Won’t Wait.”

Unfortunately there are a fair share of duds here as well like the foreboding Jesus Christ saga “Diggin’ Me Down,” and the especially useless “Latimer’s Mercy.” Osbourne’s new guitarist Gus G., taking over for Zakk Wylde, fits in to the noise-fest quite well, though Ozzy and co-producer Kevin Churko could lay off the layers a bit and still get the point across.

Tracks to download: “Let Me Hear You Scream” “Life Won’t Wait.”

Kelley Ryan, “Twist” (Manatee). 4 stars.

This is one very cool collaborative effort.

Kelley Ryan is the focal point for the California band astroPuppees and this is the first album she’s released under her own name.

While she may hardly be a newcomer, this is one very auspicious solo debut.
But it’s only solo to a point. She worked with a great bunch in the studio including producer Don Dixon (R.E.M., Smithereens, etc.) the esteemed songwriter and arranger Van Dyke Parks and the eternally underrated singer/songwriter Marti Jones, whose close harmonies meld beautifully with Ryan. Drummer Jim Brock filled out the sound of the 12-song outing which was recorded in California, Ohio and Ireland.

Dazzling songs abound, like the harmony-sparked “The Lady’s Daughter” and the West Coast pop of “Monkey With a Flashlight,” straight through to the unexpected but perfect cover of Beck’s “Lost Cause.” And don’t forget to check out Parks’ wild string arrangements in “Bridie’s Eyes,” and “The Beautiful Child” and you’ll get a taste for why he is such a revered figure in pop history.